Chapter 495: The Burned City (4)
A well... a well...
Deep underground in the closed slave detention center. Oliver sat, leaning on a wall with his quarterstaff, using a magical light source to illuminate the darkness, and was eating a Calorie Bar to fill his stomach.
He was hungry. The difference from the past was that instead of shoving food down indiscriminately, he ate slowly, as if conducting a chemical experiment, little by little.
The reason for this was none other than his right arm. More precisely, it was because of his right arm that had been burned by a demon.
Throb...
While eating the Calorie Bar, a brief but sharp pain surged through his right arm. As always, the pain became more pronounced whenever he filled his stomach. Or perhaps it would be more accurate to say that it hurt more.
Whenever he ate enough to alleviate his hunger, the pain would worsen. Then, as his stomach emptied again, the pain would relatively subside.
Oliver experimented with his own body, carefully nibbling on the Calorie Bar to determine how much food he could consume without the pain becoming unbearable and recorded his findings in a notebook.
He did this because it seemed the only way to endure.
"Hunger, burning pain... Should I record that too?"
Oliver thought as he observed his shadow cast by the light source.
In the shadow, there were faint signs of life, and it occasionally wriggled on its own.
It wasn't strange. Although unintentional, Oliver had infused his hunger into the shadow, giving it life and turning it into a creature.
An amorphous creature without a definite shape.
The problem was that it had once been extinguished by the flame created by the Burned One.
"Did it not vanish?"
Oliver speculated. It was a plausible notion.
If the shadow shared a strong connection with the sorcerer, as seen in the case of Pan's shadow.
Pan's shadow had persisted despite being afflicted by countless diseases, suffering extensive damage, and exhausting substantial power until Pan chose to eliminate it.
Moreover, Oliver's shadow had absorbed the emotions, magic, and life force of the flesh chef who had turned into a dragon, as well as several of Pan's creatures, so it was not impossible.
In black magic, the materials used were as important as the sorcerer's skill.
"Hmm... I should observe it for now."
Oliver decided. Although it was an unintended creation, it intrigued him.
More than anything, he was curious about what form and shape this creature, made through his shadow, would eventually take.
Creatures reflected the sorcerer's disposition and temperament. Since Oliver himself was unaware of his own nature, he wanted to observe his creature to learn more about it.
"You're here."
Just as he was wrapping up, a woman's voice was heard.
It was Joanna's voice.
"Yes, Knight."
Oliver put away the notebook and picked up the quarterstaff leaning against the wall, rising from his seat.
"I hope I didn’t trouble you by calling you."
"Not at all. It was unexpected, though."
Oliver recalled meeting Joanna at the Holy Knights’ branch that morning. Under the watchful eyes of other knights and priests, they exchanged the usual greetings.
Just as they were about to part ways, Joanna extended her hand for a handshake, slipping a note to him discreetly.
Without saying a word, Oliver accepted the note, confirming the time and place for their meeting.
"Why was it unexpected?"
Joanna's sudden question left Oliver momentarily at a loss for words. Why had he not expected it? Perhaps it was due to her demeanor when they first met on the New World continent.
She had seemed intimidated, as if she wanted to avoid him. However, now there was no such sign. Instead, there was a firm resolve, as if she had made some sort of determination.
"Well... But is it really fine to sneak out like this? I appreciate it, but won't others find it suspicious?"
"Don't worry. It's known that I sometimes patrol the slums. Thanks to the recent mission, they tend to give me some leeway."
"Ah, I see... Speaking of which—"
"I reported the events at the abandoned mine accurately."
Joanna interrupted Oliver before he could finish his sentence.
"…"
"I reported everything truthfully to the higher-ups about what happened at the abandoned mine. They issued a gag order to prevent causing any unrest, and I agreed to comply… I'm sorry."
Joanna apologized, revealing the information Oliver was curious about even before he asked.
Oliver wasn't sure how to respond.
"No… Since I also agreed to keep it quiet, there's no need for you to apologize, Knight. I was just curious, that's all."
"Thank you for understanding."
Oliver tilted his head slightly at Joanna's changed demeanor. He couldn't pinpoint it exactly, but she seemed more steadfast, as if she had made up her mind about something.
She appeared better than when they had first met here, but at the same time, there was a sense of precariousness.
"Knight."
"Yes."
"Could you tell me what happened while I was unconscious? I clearly failed to defeat the Burned One, so how did we manage to get out safely?"
"The demon seemed impressed by you, Oliver. It set a quarter of the city ablaze before leaving. It spared me as well."
It was the truth. Although she didn’t reveal every detail, her words were sincere.
"Is that so?"
"Yes, it seemed to have taken mercy after witnessing your efforts… Thank you for saving the city."
Joanna straightened her posture and bowed deeply to Oliver, showing her gratitude with a level of respect that was almost overwhelming.
Oliver tried to downplay it, saying he was only doing his job, but Joanna was adamant.
"No, Oliver. Regardless of the reasons, you helped reduce the damage to the city. You deserve thanks."
Faced with her firm emotions, Oliver could no longer refuse. There was indeed something behind her words.
"Thank you for saying that… Was this the reason you wanted to see me?"
"That’s part of it, but there are other things as well."
"What are they?"
"I have two questions to ask, one thing to tell you, and a gift to give."
Joanna laid out her intentions clearly, as if she had prepared in advance, sparking Oliver's curiosity.
"What do you wish to ask?"
"What happened to the boy?"
Joanna's question struck suddenly.
"The fifteen-year-old boy taken for experimentation under the Life School’s Martel Institute… Do you know what became of him?"
"…"
"I've always wondered. Shamelessly, I might add… Can you tell me?"
Joanna spoke with a determination that shone through her anguish and fear.
Oliver hesitated for a moment before answering.
"He was rescued with help."
"Help?"
"Yes, someone I knew assisted me. Thanks to that person, we were able to rescue him without causing much trouble. He is now in a safe place with that person's support, and I've even received letters from him."
"…Ah."
Joanna closed her eyes and let out a sound that could have been either a sigh or a groan.
Though outwardly calm, the tension and fear that had clung to her seemed to peel away, revealing a deep sense of gratitude, relief, and joy.
Wiping the corners of her eyes, she spoke again.
"Thank you… Truly, thank you for telling me."
"It's nothing worth thanking me for."
Oliver replied, recalling the boy, Collin.
The boy who had believed Oliver to be his savior.
The boy, whose body had swelled like bread dough, had begged to be saved because he feared dying and going to hell. But there was nothing Oliver could do for him.
At best, he could only hold the boy's hand, ask for his name, and listen to his confession.
He was not qualified for anything more. The memory stirred indescribable emotions within him—feelings he still could not fully understand.
Perhaps these emotions had surfaced on his face, for Joanna could say nothing to him.
Oliver changed the subject.
"You mentioned two questions. What is the other one?"
"In fact, I've wanted to ask this since the abandoned mine. Did you ever visit the orphanage where I used to live?"
"Ah…"
Oliver let out a sigh as he remembered what he had said to Joanna at the abandoned mine. He decided to answer honestly.
"Yes, I happened to visit when I was nearby… I apologize for visiting without permission."
"No, there’s no need to apologize."
Joanna's response was genuine, and she carefully continued.
"Are they… doing well?"
"I'm not sure. It's been some time since I visited… But when I did, they seemed to be doing fine. The children were cheerful, and the director and staff were kind."
"When I was transferred from Landa to here, I received an additional instruction."
"What was it?"
"I was told not to write letters to the orphanage or contact them in any way. Naturally, any letters from the orphanage were not delivered to me. They said it was to ensure I could focus on my duties as a Holy Knight without being influenced by personal emotions."
It was a rather ironic instruction. Though Joanna was committed to her duties as a knight, hearing such a statement was still surprising.
Then again, the role of a knight could be interpreted in different ways, depending on one's perspective.
"The only information I could get about the orphanage came indirectly from other knights. I heard that the support funds from the church had been reduced."
"…"
"Apparently, they were at risk for a while, but an anonymous donation came in from Landa, and they managed to get back on track."
"That's good to hear."
"Yes, I was so relieved when I heard… Was that donation from you, Oliver?"
Joanna asked, but it felt more like she was confirming something she already suspected. How did she figure it out?
"Hmm… Does it really matter who helped?"
After a moment of consideration, Oliver replied. He didn’t mind revealing it, but he also saw no need to. Keeping the donation anonymous would avoid potential misunderstandings.
Understanding his intention, Joanna didn’t press the issue further. She was simply grateful.
It made sense—she had failed to protect both the boy taken to Martel and the people at the orphanage, while Oliver had stepped in to do what she could not.
Though she still had countless questions, she felt she wasn't in a position to ask them, at least not yet.
"Are you all right, Knight?"
"Ah, yes… I’m fine. Also, thank you."
"For what…?"
"For everything, really."
"Hmm… If you don't mind, may I ask you a question too?"
Joanna nodded.
"On my way here, I had a chance to look around the nearby slums. The situation seemed quite dire."
"The wrath following the Great Fire is directed at the Hong. The police, the army, and even we knights are doing our best to contain it, but retaliatory beatings and murders are occurring sporadically."
Oliver nodded. He had read similar accounts in the newspapers here, which speculated that the Hong were collectively responsible for the fire, leading to retaliatory attacks and killings. However, there was something else that concerned him more.
"There’s talk of relocating the Hong entirely outside the city. Is that true?"
"…Yes."
Joanna hesitated before nodding.
"It's an idea that has been discussed for some time. Since the Hong became illegal slaves and were forced into poverty, there have been calls for their expulsion… It remained at the discussion level, but the Great Fire seems to have fueled the movement."
Hmm… Oliver didn’t know how to respond. The Red warlocks' acts of revenge had, ironically, endangered their own people.
Or was it because he had interfered? His thoughts became complicated. But aside from that, a question arose.
If he had not stopped the Burned One and let the entire city burn, would the Hong in the slums have been safe?
Probably not. The slums were still part of the city, and if the entire city had been set ablaze, the slums would not have escaped.
"Is the relocation confirmed? Is there no way to stop it?"
Joanna shook her head sadly.
"I'm sorry… Realistically, it will be difficult to prevent."
Oliver silently agreed. He had anticipated this to some extent.
With the countless people who lost their homes and possessions in the Great Fire needing some form of appeasement, even the establishment of the Prometheus Corporation by Kenny as a scapegoat wouldn’t be enough to stop the push for Hong expulsion.
Even Oliver, who wasn’t deeply versed in such matters, could see that.
The only way to prevent it would be to eliminate everyone in the kingdom except the Hong.
But even then, that couldn’t be considered a solution. The military would come next.
Paul Carver, the city's interior minister, was right—problems like these were incredibly challenging to solve. It was enough to make Oliver acutely aware of his own limitations.
"Do you know where they would be relocated?"
"No. That's under the jurisdiction of the governor's office… But it won't be a pleasant place. They won't be able to take much with them either. That's why the Hong are discussing amongst themselves what to do."
"How do you know about that?"
"I made a few small gestures to help them, and it led to some connections."
Ah, Oliver understood immediately. Joanna had used her own money and donations to provide supplies and patrolled the slums to help maintain order.
"Hmm…"
Oliver let out a small sound and searched his inner pocket. Soon, he found what he was looking for.
"Please take this."
He handed Joanna a bankbook. It had 'Land Bank' written on it.
"What is this?"
"I met with Prince Albert today. He gave this to me as a token of appreciation."
Joanna opened the bankbook and was shocked by the amount of money written inside, covering her mouth in surprise.
"This… this is…?"
"Please accept it. I don’t consider it my money to begin with."
"But—"
"I only took on this task because of General Philip, not the prince. So, I have no reason to keep the money. Moreover, the prince gave it to me as a thank-you for protecting the city, so I believe it’s only right for you to have it. I don’t have any use for it, but you certainly do. So, please accept it."
After some hesitation, Joanna clutched the bankbook tightly and accepted it.
"Truly… Thank you."
"You deserve it as well—what’s that?"
Oliver asked as he saw Joanna pull something else out after tucking the bankbook away.
In her hands was an old book.
"It’s a scripture."
Oliver recognized the book Joanna was holding. As she said, it was a scripture—specifically, the one he had returned to her in the cathedral.
"This is the gift I want to give you, Oliver. I wish to return it to you… Will you accept it?"
Oliver looked at the scripture and then at Joanna, sensing her emotions. She felt a mixture of anguish, guilt, and fear that he might refuse, yet there was also a resolute determination. It was rather admirable.
"I'll gladly accept it."
"Truly?"
"Yes. I was just thinking of buying a scripture myself."
Oliver took the scripture with his left hand, the same hand he had used to give Joanna the bankbook. Just as he was about to put it away, Joanna grabbed his hand.
Her emotions conveyed resolve, sincerity, and hope through her touch.
"Knight?"
"When you first came here, you asked me, didn't you?"
"Asked you?"
"You said you came for a consultation because you felt sad that you couldn’t feel anything."
"Ah… Yes, I felt sorrow for not being able to empathize with a child who was grieving for their lost family. It was selfish of me."
"You don’t need to feel sad."
Joanna spoke with a voice full of resolve.
"I don't need to feel sad?"
"Yes. That's the advice I want to give you. You think and you act, after all."
"I'm not sure I understand what you mean."
"Human beings are inherently insensitive to others’ feelings, especially in a world like today’s. It's a society where insensitivity is unavoidable."
Her words were sincere.
"It's even more difficult to empathize with strangers, or people far away. Emotions are a limited resource, after all."
Oliver couldn’t deny it. As a warlock, he was more aware than anyone of the finite nature of emotions.
"But still…"
When Oliver tried to respond, Joanna squeezed his hand tighter. It felt as if her emotions were flowing into him through her skin.
"A person’s true nature is revealed not through their words, thoughts, or beliefs, but through their actions."
Joanna tightened her grip on his hand.
"Even though I may be foolish, there's one thing I know for sure: you took action to save a child in danger, you crossed the sea to find me out of concern for your own shortcomings, and during all that, you saved the city and willingly gave your own money to help those in need."
"…"
"The reason you struggle to empathize is likely because you’ve had to endure many difficult days."
"…Isn’t it possible that I might still be wrong?"
Oliver questioned, as he found it hard to trust himself.
"In that case, I’ll believe in you. No matter what happens, I will trust, support, and help you."
Joanna promised, smiling with more conviction than ever before.
...
"How ridiculously deep is this place?"
In the late hours before dawn, a Holy Knight from the New World's First Step Branch was exploring an underground tunnel with his subordinates.
According to Joanna’s report, it was a tunnel dug by the Eternal Child, Pan, through his creatures, but it was so deep and intricate that it was hard to believe.
"It’s like a maze."
Another knight on the same mission shouted.
"Hey, that’s the wrong way! Be careful. The tunnels go up and down, and if you get lost, it’ll be a real problem!"
The knights quickly corrected their direction and maintained their spacing.
The reason for their visit was to confirm the demon summoning site Joanna had reported.
Despite heading there immediately after hearing the report, the depth and complexity of the tunnels, combined with traps scattered throughout, caused delays.
It was hard to imagine how Joanna had reached the summoning site in such a short time.
"Well, we’ll find out soon enough."
As the knight thought, they finally arrived at their destination.
The knights lit up the area using holy magic to examine the surroundings. It was indeed a vast underground cavern.
The sheer scale of the excavation beneath the city sent shivers down their spines.
But such thoughts vanished the moment they saw the horrific ritual remnants at the center of the space.
As Joanna had described, a totem of Hong tradition stood amidst a pile of hundreds of charred bodies, with ashes and burned corpses scattered everywhere.
The most dreadful sight was that of a girl with her legs spread apart, her body in a state too terrible to describe, surrounded by kneeling, blackened corpses in a prayer-like position, intensifying the horror.
In his six years as a knight, he had never encountered such a chilling scene.
Perhaps that was why it felt like the space itself wasn't real.
"Sir, we’ve finished taking the photographs."
A subordinate with a camera reported.
The mission was to take photos, then survey the area, preserving the scene and noting any anomalies for the report.
It was time for the knights to move.
Just as they began to walk, something stirred atop the pile of hundreds of burned corpses.
Had gases built up inside a decaying body? But they were all supposed to be completely burned…
As the knights prepared for the unexpected, raising their weapons, a man suddenly stood up from the pile.
He was a Hong. He held a small child in his arms, with one leg fused into a mass of flesh and his skin mottled and discolored.
"Ah…! Aaaaargh…!!"
The Hong wailed as if the world had crumbled.
The startled knights quickly invoked holy magic to subdue him, but the Hong was faster, swinging his arm and severing the heads of the knights and their subordinates in one stroke.
Their vision tilted. Their heads fell to the ground with a thud, and one knight saw, from an upside-down perspective, the Red warlock howling like a beast as he begged the dying boy in his arms.
"Don’t die! Aaaah!! Please, don’t die…!! You damn god!!! Aaaaaargh!!!!"